documents leaked by edward snowden. now for more detail, we're joined by our correspondent here in the studio. he's worked he is extensively on the story. thank you for coming in. what's provoked the anger of these internet giants. >> what's going on here is that the n.s.a., natural security agency together with its british counter part, the government communications headquarters has tapped into fiber optic cables outside the united states that google and yahoo, two of the world's large evident email providers use to transmit data, so they are able to absorb, suck up, if you will, hundreds of millions of packets of data, emails, all times of communications. this is different from a legal program in the united states that's authorized under u.s. law where the government and n.s.a. can approach companies and compel them with a court order to hand over details about specific individuals in their emails. this is a much more in discriminate approach. >> it just looks like it's just spiraling out of control, the whole spying